Backyard Birding - The Gila Woodpecker

The most common woodpecker in Arizona's deserts is probably the Gila woodpecker.  From a distance he's sometimes confused with the gilded flicker, especially from behind, because they each have a black latticed pattern on their backs.  But the Gila is much smaller and has a plainer front, lacking the black-speckled torso and black chest plate of the gilded.  Also, the Gila male sports a red cap versus the gilded's red mustache as their sex's distinguishing feature.

One thing the pair share is an attraction to my backyard's hummingbird feeder.  They each cling to it like they do the bark of tall trees and palms, and slurp the sugar water with their long, skinny tongues.  So for this edition of the blog, I'd like to welcome the Gila woodpecker to my periodic posts on lucky backyard birding.  Remember that sometimes a look outside your window is all you need to experience another adventure in the wild.

Male Gila woodpecker, above, and female gilder flicker, below, at my backyard's hummingbird feeder.  The Gila is much smaller than than the gilded.

Male Gila woodpecker at my backyard hummingbird feeder.

Male Gila woodpecker at my backyard hummingbird feeder.  Note the red cap which identifies the male in the species. 

Male Gila woodpecker at my backyard hummingbird feeder.

Male Gila woodpecker at my backyard hummingbird feeder.